What Todd Bowles needs to do to secure his job for 2018

[Gas2No99]

What Todd Bowles needs to do to secure his job for 2018

Todd Bowles celebrates his 54th birthday on Saturday and will be back in the office Monday morning, coming off a bye week, to begin the homestretch -- six pivotal games that probably will determine if he's coaching the New York Jets when he's 55.

Bowles is 19-23, with no playoff appearances. It's not the kind of résumé that screams, "Contract extension!" In this case, there are mitigating circumstances. This is Year 1 of a major rebuild, with ownership on record as saying he won't be judged by wins and losses. Johnson & Johnson -- brothers Woody and Christopher -- want to end the season with a good vibe about the team, feeling optimistic about the future.

Last week's lackluster loss was a hiccup, no doubt, but acting owner Christopher Johnson has told people he's encouraged by the direction. In September, he told reporters, "I think it’s going to be obvious to all if this team is progressing." So far, yes, the Jets (4-6) are ahead of where many experts expected -- read: in contention for the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft -- but they're about to embark on a brutally tough stretch run.

 

Todd Bowles has some work to do to secure his future, and the final six games are daunting. AP Photo/Bill Kostroun

The Jets face four of the top 10 teams in ESPN's latest power rankings -- the Carolina Panthers (10th), Kansas City Chiefs (fifth), New Orleans Saints (third) and New England Patriots (second). The Jets are projected to finish with 5.4 wins, according to ESPN analytics.

If Bowles gets this team to six wins, he'd absolutely deserve to return with a contract extension (he's signed through 2018 and ownership won't make him coach as a lame duck). A 6-10 mark would constitute progress on every level, especially when you consider last season's 5-11 record. You could make the argument he's already done enough, but ownership will make its decision based on the full 16.

Beyond wins and losses, there are a few key areas in which progress can be measured over the next six weeks:

Competitiveness: This is critical. Blowouts won't be tolerated. So far, so good. Their past four losses were decided by seven points or fewer, an indication they're hanging tough against superior teams. (The loss in Tampa was the outlier.) In 10 games, the Jets have trailed by more than one possession for only 47 minutes, much of that coming in the Week 2 loss to the Oakland Raiders. But now comes the tough part, as they face some of the hottest teams in the league.

Problem solving: The mark of a good coaching staff is its ability to fix things on the fly. Example: Remember the Patriots' porous defense in the beginning of the year? You don't hear much about that anymore, do you?

The Jets have made a similar improvement with their run defense, which went from 143 yards per game (first five games) to 93 (past five). But they still have a couple of leaks that need to be plugged. The rushing offense has declined (111 yards to 92) and the penalties -- oh, the penalties. It has been a season-long issue, and it needs to change because it's a bad look.

Player development:Veterans such as Josh McCown, Demario Davis, Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Jermaine Kearse are having career years, statistically. At the same time, Jamal Adams, Marcus Maye, Darron Lee, Robby Anderson and Jordan Jenkins have established a young core. This illustrates that Bowles, who showed in 2015 he can coach an old team (10-6), is capable of developing young talent. It hasn't happened at quarterback, but that can't be pinned on coaching.

You'd like to see more from the young players over the final six games. Because of injuries, rookies Chad Hansen, ArDarius Stewart and Elijah McGuire will be asked to contribute off the bench. Can they make an impact? And what about Rashard Robinson, whom they acquired at the trade deadline? The personnel department loves his upside, but he has yet to play a down on defense.

Team chemistry: They just have to keep doing what they're doing. Or let's put it another way: Don't be the 2016 Jets or the 2017 New York Giants.

[Beerfish]

Nice to totally forget about the sea of underachieving vets and the fact that the 'development' guys are only being looked at due to injuries.

The reason the team is a whopping 4-6 instead of 2-8?  They have played aging vets who will be gone sooner than later and the kids who did NOT get playing time will lack skills or be used as another excuse in cominng years.

[MDL_JET]

9 minutes ago, Beerfish said:

Nice to totally forget about the sea of underachieving vets and the fact that the 'development' guys are only being looked at due to injuries.

The reason the team is a whopping 4-6 instead of 2-8?  They have played aging vets who will be gone sooner than later and the kids who did NOT get playing time will lack skills or be used as another excuse in cominng years.

I'm almost starting to admire your passion of hate for Bowles. It's quite something. I can't imagine the fury when we hear Bowles has been extended this off season. 

[Beerfish]

12 minutes ago, MDL_JET said:

I'm almost starting to admire your passion of hate for Bowles. It's quite something. I can't imagine the fury when we hear Bowles has been extended this off season. 

I 100% fully expect him to be extended.  Unlike other people that do not like him I am a realist and feel he will be here for a good 2 to 3 years more.  With much woe to the jets.

[JetFaninMI]

4 hours ago, Beerfish said:

I 100% fully expect him to be extended.  Unlike other people that do not like him I am a realist and feel he will be here for a good 2 to 3 years more.  With much woe to the jets.

I agree. They stated from the beginning of the season that Bowles would not be judged on wins and losses and if they are true to their word he will be retained. So look for McCown to be re-signed, another BPA pick in the 1st round no matter who is available and another 2-3 years of sub-par play.

[rangerous]

4 hours ago, Beerfish said:

Nice to totally forget about the sea of underachieving vets and the fact that the 'development' guys are only being looked at due to injuries.

The reason the team is a whopping 4-6 instead of 2-8?  They have played aging vets who will be gone sooner than later and the kids who did NOT get playing time will lack skills or be used as another excuse in cominng years.

what aging vets?  the jets are the youngest team in the league.  the only aging vet is mccown and whether you like it or not both petty and hack aren't good enough to start.  sure, everyone wants to see one of them start and they probably will after the carolina game but this whole notion that they aren't starting because bowles likes vets is a little off.  and if the jets already know what they got with petty/hack there's no point to putting them in.  i'm not saying that's what i want to see but just how it seems to be with bowles.

[rangerous]

5 hours ago, Gas2No99 said:

What Todd Bowles needs to do to secure his job for 2018

Todd Bowles celebrates his 54th birthday on Saturday and will be back in the office Monday morning, coming off a bye week, to begin the homestretch -- six pivotal games that probably will determine if he's coaching the New York Jets when he's 55.

Bowles is 19-23, with no playoff appearances. It's not the kind of résumé that screams, "Contract extension!" In this case, there are mitigating circumstances. This is Year 1 of a major rebuild, with ownership on record as saying he won't be judged by wins and losses. Johnson & Johnson -- brothers Woody and Christopher -- want to end the season with a good vibe about the team, feeling optimistic about the future.

Last week's lackluster loss was a hiccup, no doubt, but acting owner Christopher Johnson has told people he's encouraged by the direction. In September, he told reporters, "I think it’s going to be obvious to all if this team is progressing." So far, yes, the Jets (4-6) are ahead of where many experts expected -- read: in contention for the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft -- but they're about to embark on a brutally tough stretch run.

 

Todd Bowles has some work to do to secure his future, and the final six games are daunting. AP Photo/Bill Kostroun

The Jets face four of the top 10 teams in ESPN's latest power rankings -- the Carolina Panthers (10th), Kansas City Chiefs (fifth), New Orleans Saints (third) and New England Patriots (second). The Jets are projected to finish with 5.4 wins, according to ESPN analytics.

If Bowles gets this team to six wins, he'd absolutely deserve to return with a contract extension (he's signed through 2018 and ownership won't make him coach as a lame duck). A 6-10 mark would constitute progress on every level, especially when you consider last season's 5-11 record. You could make the argument he's already done enough, but ownership will make its decision based on the full 16.

Beyond wins and losses, there are a few key areas in which progress can be measured over the next six weeks:

Competitiveness: This is critical. Blowouts won't be tolerated. So far, so good. Their past four losses were decided by seven points or fewer, an indication they're hanging tough against superior teams. (The loss in Tampa was the outlier.) In 10 games, the Jets have trailed by more than one possession for only 47 minutes, much of that coming in the Week 2 loss to the Oakland Raiders. But now comes the tough part, as they face some of the hottest teams in the league.

Problem solving: The mark of a good coaching staff is its ability to fix things on the fly. Example: Remember the Patriots' porous defense in the beginning of the year? You don't hear much about that anymore, do you?

The Jets have made a similar improvement with their run defense, which went from 143 yards per game (first five games) to 93 (past five). But they still have a couple of leaks that need to be plugged. The rushing offense has declined (111 yards to 92) and the penalties -- oh, the penalties. It has been a season-long issue, and it needs to change because it's a bad look.

Player development:Veterans such as Josh McCown, Demario Davis, Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Jermaine Kearse are having career years, statistically. At the same time, Jamal Adams, Marcus Maye, Darron Lee, Robby Anderson and Jordan Jenkins have established a young core. This illustrates that Bowles, who showed in 2015 he can coach an old team (10-6), is capable of developing young talent. It hasn't happened at quarterback, but that can't be pinned on coaching.

You'd like to see more from the young players over the final six games. Because of injuries, rookies Chad Hansen, ArDarius Stewart and Elijah McGuire will be asked to contribute off the bench. Can they make an impact? And what about Rashard Robinson, whom they acquired at the trade deadline? The personnel department loves his upside, but he has yet to play a down on defense.

Team chemistry: They just have to keep doing what they're doing. Or let's put it another way: Don't be the 2016 Jets or the 2017 New York Giants.

i agree with this.  it's not going to be about wins and losses but how bowles manages to get the team's attention.  right now they have a serious issue with the oline and penalties.  if those two things get straightened out it means he's still got the team's attention and they should be able to be way more competitive.

[Pac]

It's pretty much a certainty that Macc will be back and barring a series of blowout losses Bowles will be too. 

[varjet]

5 hours ago, Beerfish said:

Nice to totally forget about the sea of underachieving vets and the fact that the 'development' guys are only being looked at due to injuries.

The reason the team is a whopping 4-6 instead of 2-8?  They have played aging vets who will be gone sooner than later and the kids who did NOT get playing time will lack skills or be used as another excuse in cominng years.

The Jets picked up players at the end of their contracts who have undoubted contributed to several if not all of the wins but are not assured (or are not likely) to be around for the future.  They have potentially not built much.

This is a team that is really trying to exorcise itself of Rex and Tannenbaum.  Its roster needs alot of help.  Mac on his own is not the answer, and Bowles is not the reason this is not a playoff team.  Do I think Bowles is or will be a great coach?  No and probably not.  But he is a good man, and I like many of the assistants he has retained.  Mac has to do a better job acquiring talent, and then we can see what Bowles really is.   That is the highest priority, and I don't the current decision process works.   Firing Bowles just muddles that process more.  

We all know a team that has talent but is poorly coached.   That is not the 2017 Jets.   I would keep the platform stable and get more talent, and then we will have more coaching options.

[CrazyCarl40]

37 minutes ago, Pac said:

It's pretty much a certainty that Macc will be back and barring a series of blowout losses Bowles will be too. 

Let mediocrity reign!!!

[GATA]

Since when is going 6-10 a deserving congratulatory mark for a coach?

 

We seem to reward doing the absolute min. It’s so tiresome.

 

Sent from my iPhone using JetNation.com mobile app

 

 

[T0mShane]

7 hours ago, Gas2No99 said:

Player development:Veterans such as Josh McCown, Demario Davis, Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Jermaine Kearse are having career years, statistically. At the same time, Jamal Adams, Marcus Maye, Darron Lee, Robby Anderson and Jordan Jenkins have established a young core. This illustrates that Bowles, who showed in 2015 he can coach an old team (10-6), is capable of developing young talent. It hasn't happened at quarterback, but that can't be pinned on coaching.

This is quality literature. 

[dbatesman]

9 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

This is quality literature. 

Career years, young core, developing young talent

[T0mShane]

26 minutes ago, dbatesman said:

Career years, young core, developing young talent

Like MadLibs for garbage teams.

[Pac]

9 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

Like MadLibs for garbage teams.

the Ilk is a garbage team.  and you're the captain.

[T0mShane]

1 minute ago, Pac said:

the Ilk is a garbage team.  and you're the captain.

We prefer the term “cabal.”

[Pac]

8 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

We prefer the term “cabal.”

The Fraternity of Fail

Coterie of Calamity

Gathering of Gheys

[dbatesman]

49 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

Like MadLibs for garbage teams.

A restaurant called Wordsaladworks whose buffet consists entirely of terms like "shows promise" and "should be a starter next year" and "solid role player." Its only customers are Jets beat reporters, the #drafttwitter guys who get together every March to choose a random defender as "the best player in the draft," and the most severely brain-damaged JN posters.

[RutgersJetFan]

4 minutes ago, dbatesman said:

A restaurant called Wordsaladworks whose buffet consists entirely of terms like "shows promise" and "should be a starter next year" and "solid role player." Its only customers are Jets beat reporters, the #drafttwitter guys who get together every March to choose a random defender as "the best player in the draft," and the most severely brain-damaged JN posters.

I'll bet they serve Artisan Iced Teas too.

[CrazyCarl40]

1 hour ago, Pac said:

The Fraternity of Fail

Coterie of Calamity

Gathering of Gheys

We go by The WuTank Clan. You are the pharma bro who jacked up prices and stole their album out of jealousy. We’re not going to stop bringing the ruckus either. 

[Integrity28]

He should put on a wig and stuff s pillow under his shirt to do an impression of his brother. That’ll get him 2 extra years minimum.

Also scapegoats. Lots and lots of scapegoats.

[Charlie Brown]

IMO if this article is even remotely true than this is why Bowles will start McCown no matter what.  

Think would you have put your future in the hands Hack or even Petty for that matter when you have a QB who can look good and consequently save your job?

The answer to that is obvious; what should have happened was the fact that ownership should have directed Bowles to play the young QBs and said to him he was safe for at least two more years.  

Maybe they did guarantee that with Bowles but look what happened with the Jets when Mangini was the HC; they guaranteed he would be back when he didn’t want Farve and then they fired him, so who knows.  

[Kleckineau]

Bowles deserves credit for his quiet and stoic demeanor.

He understands it is better to keep his mouth shut to avoid confirming his football ignorance.

He is a bottom 5 HC.

[The Crusher]

9 hours ago, dbatesman said:

A restaurant called Wordsaladworks whose buffet consists entirely of terms like "shows promise" and "should be a starter next year" and "solid role player." Its only customers are Jets beat reporters, the #drafttwitter guys who get together every March to choose a random defender as "the best player in the draft," and the most severely brain-damaged JN posters.

F that place!

[The Crusher]

First year of the rebuild? What? So I guess Bowles and Macc got two redshirt years? What a crock of shit. 

[Fantasy Island]

I think Bowles can save his job by fighting his gag reflex.

[UnitedWhofans]

17 hours ago, GATA said:

Since when is going 6-10 a deserving congratulatory mark for a coach?

 

We seem to reward doing the absolute min. It’s so tiresome.

 

Sent from my iPhone using JetNation.com mobile app

 

 

People before the year said that if the Jets get to 6 wins, Bowles should be coach of the year 

[UnitedWhofans]

On 11/17/2017 at 1:13 PM, Beerfish said:

Nice to totally forget about the sea of underachieving vets and the fact that the 'development' guys are only being looked at due to injuries.

The reason the team is a whopping 4-6 instead of 2-8?  They have played aging vets who will be gone sooner than later and the kids who did NOT get playing time will lack skills or be used as another excuse in cominng years.

Two aging vets?

[GATA]

People before the year said that if the Jets get to 6 wins, Bowles should be coach of the year 

They were obviously overseas last yr


Sent from my iPhone using JetNation.com mobile app

[Bugg]

18 hours ago, GATA said:

Since when is going 6-10 a deserving congratulatory mark for a coach?

 

We seem to reward doing the absolute min. It’s so tiresome.

 

Sent from my iPhone using JetNation.com mobile app

 

 

Recall Ryan and Idzik celebrating a senseless Week 17 win in Miami not long ago like 2 sugared up 6 year olds on Halloween night. This franchise embraces, wallows in, celebrates and epitomizes mediocrity.  And that has accelerated under the Johnson regime, which given how awful Hess was until the very end, is saying something.

This great Todd Bowles-the one who blew 2 14 point leads in 2 games, or the one who had his offense shat themselves off the bye? Ah, that run, run, incomplete pass braindead worthless embarrassment-MORE OF THAT! And Maccagnan-the guy some deep in his "best available" nonsense he's ready to extend a 38 year old journeyman barely replacement value QB but who has yet to pick a QB, a shutdown corner, and edge pass rusher or a LT? 

Wish none of these guys ill, but if you burned Florham Park to the ground and fired everyone, that might be a great start. There is NOTHING worthy of extension in this steaming pile of wreaking dogsheet spare they might not be any sensible serious NFL people who will work with the Johnsons. 

 

 

[Bugg]

15 hours ago, Charlie Brown said:

IMO if this article is even remotely true than this is why Bowles will start McCown no matter what.  

Think would you have put your future in the hands Hack or even Petty for that matter when you have a QB who can look good and consequently save your job?

The answer to that is obvious; what should have happened was the fact that ownership should have directed Bowles to play the young QBs and said to him he was safe for at least two more years.  

Maybe they did guarantee that with Bowles but look what happened with the Jets when Mangini was the HC; they guaranteed he would be back when he didn’t want Farve and then they fired him, so who knows.  

Think that Mangini/Favre firing has, while not much discussed,  caused a lot of serious NFL people to avoid this franchise like the plague. Not the kind of thing you can ever live down. Mangini was a sharp guy but did not know how to deal with people. But no matter; he was promised he wouldn't be fired if he took on Favre, he was a good soldier about it, won 9 games and still got the axe after Favre got hurt and it went to hell. Kind of thing that is gonna follow the Johnsons around forever. 

[Philc1]

Fog a mirror.  Our ownership is a lost cause